Player piano



II; F. COOPER. PLAYER Puma. a cor. 5. 1917.

Dec. 19, 1922.

Milli/am 12 62907327 M My 16% [2 suesrs-suczr Z W. F. COOPER.

PLAYER PIANO. FILED OCT. 5. 1917.

Tmmmw Dec. 19, 1922.

ZZ/ZZZZLCLWL f Cooper m9 @Q m hi Dec. 19, 192-2.

W W W. O 2% WK 2 n 1% w WT u w Dec, 19, 1922.

ll. F. COOPER. PLAYER PIANO. FILED OCT. 5. I917,

I2 SHEETS-sneer 6 Dec. 19, 1922.

VI. F. COOPER. PLAYER Pam F'LED our 5.

12 SHEETSSHEET 7 Xxx JnumZzw wllliam I? Cbn ,/7"

d 11220 Kiley/s.

1,439,148 V! F, COOPER. PLArER PIANO. FILED our. 5. I917.

I2 swims-suck? B M E i Dec. 19, 1922.

I Cooper ma w Dec. 19, 1922.

W4 F. COOPER. PLAYER PIANO.

FILED oc'r 2 SHEETS'SHEET l0 .Imanifir 1 (bopar M liy (xi W (r 11527710298 Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

E P TENT @F F I C E "P1 AIN- 6.

- niiiiliedtidn' filedflcteber 5, 917. scrim Jib. 194,880.

llIjQl$dhkk e inyentedm eertainfg ew zi iul use;

interposed :het reign tlie pu npnrul the g ctinn, v\'l,|i eh ,i: .1nthieiieiail :pneunnitirnlly. from the llih'kel' hmor which ,n'i;i ;.ihejc'untmllgitl i the qpemtpr frtmi v. pedal 1 some mnn lml contrnhmqclmnihrn. 'Flge particnlm: valve mnstrnrtimi employe l ,i11 the rcgulntnr anal the nuumerwn f influencing this valve from the tracker lmr central and the principal featm'es tending tmvzuzcl the in pz'nve 'n'ent of the expres sinn inechiinism. A iecnalnry (5hieut. of any Enwntipn ,i to, prmgiiienn in.- prgzwl manner rail control, which automatitgally ns sixines :in active pos'i tiun the in-V stant thg. player, is operated pneumatically and which :i itomati cally retracts to an inap tire pesition when the player ceases operatingwpneumgtinully l i Annther object of my invention is to make the controkr of a piano automatic in their :ii Linn by returning them to their normal p0- inns: when theiaperntmn of the pneur'nntlc ".X'Qlil'tzlSPSfii) that a minimum number of wit If? 0: :21'11fi0115 are necessary to start and stop thv'pla vr. q

\zmtlzt-z' abject 05 n inventiqn is in susi the vleatriinnitnr Ly 't'nhric suspension 's's 1.0 ilhulziiu the piano from the \ihumor: of the electric motor.

iumther object-0f my invention is to provi'le an iniprmied,electric switch for i-nntrol- 1311;! the rim-nit of the elertric motor which p iii't 'eflthe igiisin'g'g re n'oi ed to h(iir the generifl .z rraing'eiiieiit and locations (if the variohsgxiieghziiiisiixs; W Fiim're 2 i an elevafional view of the expr e gz s iqn apparatus; z, n

llxgjn'i 'eii is nn elevntional View offthe air nio't'o'ig regi liitg'r Z I IId t QIILPO valve and also tlie tr'ebleprskure regfu ln tnig} 4. lfif ilrefl i5 z nfelcrn tionul iewfiif tlzeni tomittic rrbll and tempo reti u n j 'n nnhtivsg l jii nre 5 isga s ectipiialvimv tz lie'n qnitlie line e not lfii u te 1 hmving1be b.1155 pressure regnlzitprgnntl the gusta'iirpneunu t iez Figure '6 an elm zitionnl viewjif the ftfljll uftliv hzzwnnier'rail gnnti iil pneumatic:

prvr gure regulator taken on the line 8-8 of I'M-urn 2:,

I re 9 is in isoliileil sectional view of the .ltlple v-alvv of the regulator; in open posit n'n; b i igure 1013a sectional vieir'take'n 0n the line-1 0 10 (if Figure 2 Fight? 11 is ajfrafim ept arysetiongil view th rmli 'h the covero'f the main pressure regnl'at01 I w v Figure 12 js a sectional view taken on the line; 12+?) (if Figiire 2;

Figure 13 is sectional view taken on the line l t-+13 of Figure 3: l if;'nrc 1.4 is nn elex ptidnal view of the electric motor suspension;

Figure 15 is, ,2 fra'g'mentallv e'l evutionnl view of tlie traclrer box and the electric snitch :ulj'ncent theretn:

Figure '16 is, 2 scvtional view taken on the line 1( ,l( of Figure 15 and r Figure 17 is 11 sectional view taken on the line 1T U of Fi-gghreifi. A n electritmotdr 1 suspended frnm the channel section 2 drives the pneumatic pump 3 through the medium of two V-belts 44, disposed one behind the other and therefore not shown in Figure 1. The pump it is of the ordinary type employing a plurality of feeders disposed about a crank to which they are connected hy'fabrie connectors. l

Referring to Figure 2, a channel 5 extends completely around on allsides ot thepump, 3 and serves as a common inlet to all of the i'eeders. Another channel 6 in the top the pump frame communicates with the channel 5 through theports 7and8 which are covered and uncovered by valyes9 and 9' respectively, the former valve controlling the passage oi air from the pneumatic ac-i iion to the pump and the latter valve effecting a by-pass around the air motor regulator upon re-rollin'g the music sheet. The manner of operation of these valve s will be here nafter set forth in connection with'the description of the regmu mechanism; Leading diagonally upvvard in the left-hand end of the channel (Figures 2 and 8) i sthe passageway IO'Which communicates with the valve passage 12 of the main pressure regulator l3. v l

The main pressure regulator is illustrated in detail in Figure 8 and comprises a multiple valve 14', a diaphragm 1'5 anda diaphragm stem ISL/ The multiple valve 14 con sists of a seriesof leather piecesli having a central opening therethrough, which are superposed one upon theother and have their alternate edges or corners glued together, as indicated at 18 The two end leathers are glued at their corners tothe face of the diai ihragm '15 and to the wall of the diaphragm rhainher 19, respectively, so that upon flexi s; of the diaphragm 15 outward the valve a whole will be distended as shown in Figure 9, and the series of leathers 17 will be separated at their free edges, affording a plurality of valve openings, Wherefroin I get the term multiple value. The leather pieces 17 may be round, square or of any shape and of any number to take care of the volume and pressure changes to be handled my the regulator. They may be glued at alternate portions of their perimeters in two or more planes. I find this construction of value particularly effective in that it is not subject to vibration or chattering" when exceedingly high and low pressures are passed through the regulator, this vibration heiug eliminated mainly through the admission of air over a large area extended between the several layers of leather. This valve is. l iind, frictionless in operation and o ens instantly to admit a large volume of air at a low pressure. Quite obviously the nai e may he made of other materials and in other orms, as by slitting in opposite direc tions a solid tube oi" rubber. I lay particular ,onapin23. extending through the block, as

shown in Figures 2 and 10. A torsion spring 24-adjustable by means of the screw 25, ad-

jacent the upper edge of the regulator cover 21 (Figure 8), has its torsion arm engaging against the under face of the lever 22 between its fulcrum in the block 23 and its connection with the diaphragm stem 16. The tension of this torsion spring 24 is transmitted through the lever 22 and the diaphragm stem 16 to the diaphragm 15 and the spring is so adjusted that it will normally retain the multiple valve open ever so slightly, this minimum opening delivering the lowest suction pressure effective at the pneumatic action. To avoid any chance of misunderstanding, I wish it understood that the term high suction pressure he considered as synonymous to high vacuum and low suction pressure as synonymous to low vacuum. llxtending back from the diaphragm cham' her 19 is the passageways 26, which communicates with the main channel 26, passing from extreme treble end to extreme bass end of the channel section 2.

In the under face of the regidator cover 21 is the chamber 28 which can be exhausted by suction pressures 0t different intens ties. The admission at suction pressure to the chamber 28 is controlled by pouch and valve units. which are operated from the tracker bar. all of which will be hereinafter de scribed.

A shaft 29 pivotally mounted in the pedmstal block 30, on the lower edge of the regulator co er 21. has the arm 3i thereot' pivotally connected to the vertical rod 32, which in turn is connected to the expression. pedal 33 for manual operation of the expression me hanism. The opposite end of the shaft 29 has mounted thereon a rockinglcvcr 34, to one end ot Which is secured the curved leaf spring 35. The opposite end of the leaf spring 35 is bent downward to engage under the lever 22. as illus rated in Figures 3 and 10. The curvatures of the leai spring 35 and the face of the lever $14 afford a rolling; contact there-between which applies it gradually in creasing spring tension to the regulator diaphragm 1 upon depressing the expressi n pedal 3 After the leat spring 35 has come into contact with the entire surface oi the lever 34 eontinred rotation of the lever will result in a direct mechanical lift of the regulator diaphragm.

iii)

ried combinations to obtain a multiplicity of pressure graduations by the main pressure regulator 13.

Referring to Figures 3 and 13, a motor pressure regulator 72, comprising a diaphragm 73 and a valve 74, communicates with the channel 26 by Way of the passage 75. A partition 76 separates the diaphragm chamber from the valve chamber, 'and a passageway 77 connects the under face of the valve 74 with the under face of the diaphragm*73. A torsion spring 78, see Figure 3, normally keeps the valve 74 unseated. Thesuetion pressure is transmitted from the diaphragm chamber'through the passageway 79, tempo valve '80, passa eway 81, and a suitable flexible conduit to t eair motor adjacent the tracker bar. Thesuction from the channel 26 tends to unseat the valve 74 and the suction pressure under the diaphragm 73 0 poses this, tending to seat the valve 74. y properly proportioning the two'difi'erential areas the regulator can be made to smooth out the undulating pressures from the channel 26. It is desirable that a certain proportion of the pressure inlators 84 and 85, respectively. The regulators are supported upon the outer face of the channel section 2, as illustrated in Figure 5, and consist of a large diaphragm 86 and a small diaphragm 97 arranged in opposition with a multiple valve 88 under their influence for effecting the pressure regula tion. A passageway 89 serves to connect the channel 26 with the inner face of the diaphramn 87 and with the central opening in the multiple valve 88. Leading downward from adjacent the inner face of the diaphragm 87 is the passage 89'. which opens into the pouch chamber 90. This pouch and valve construction is of the conventional type, the valve 91 normally admitting suction pressure up along the stem thereof and lhrcugh the passageway 92 on to the upper surtace of the large diaphragm S6. A torsion spring 93, adjustable by means of the screw $1 1. normally tends to hold the multiple valve distended. Normally no suction pressure drop occurs in the regulator, inasmuch as the large diaphragm 9G is neutralized by having equal suction pressures on both sides hereof and smaller diaphragm 87 in coir iuurtion with the torsion spring 93. tending in keep the multiple valve 88 at a maximum opening. lhe pouch diaphragm 91' is neutralized through the blecder opening 05. and

a lead 96, in communication with the outer face of the pouch diaphragm 91, extends up to" a perforation 96' in the tracker bar. Upouuncove'ring this perforation the pouch diaphragm and the valve 91 are thrown to the left, shutting off the suction pressure to the upper face of the diaphragm 86 and admittin'g atmospheric pressure down around the outer end of the valve stem 91 and onto the outer face of the large diaphra m 86. Atmospheric pressure being impresse upon the outer faceof the valve 86 and upon the outer face ofthe'-'v'alve 87, the differential 'areasfiof' "the inner faces of these di'ap'hrag'ins coact to limit the opening of the multiple valve'88 and secure a drop of pressureahrou'gh 'tlie regulator. I find it desir'able'to so"pro'po'rtioii 'the areas of the two diap'h'ra'gms, that a suction pressure drop of'froni one-half to one-third will occur upon the operation of the regulator. The treble pressure regulator is identical with the foregoing andwill not be described. The elbows 1( )1-101 shown in Figures 1 and 3 connect the treble and bass pressure regulators with the stacks of pneumatics at the player action. The leads 96 and 97 for the bass and treble regulators respectively, are passedalong the top ofthe channel section 2 and makconnection with T-blocks 98 and 99 respectively, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Considering only the bass regulator as exemplary ofthe two, a lead 100 extends upwardlv to a manually controlled button in the ke hed,'whcrefrom the regulator can be operated manually. Another lead 102 extends from the T-block 98 to an elbow 109.. mounted in the slide valve 59. Communication is had between this latter elbow and a companion elbow 104 by way of a recess 105 under the slide valve 58, a lead 106 extending from the latter elbow 104 to a perforation 96 in the tracker bar.

The sustain is arranged for the ordinary pedal operation and in addition has a pneumatic operably connected thereto, which is controlled automatically from a perforation in the tracker bar and manuall from a push button valve in the key bed. This pneumatic, which is designated .10, is suspended below the channel section 2 at the extreme bass end thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and The movable leaf 111 has an extension 111' secured to it. which engages an :u'ljustable stop on the trap rod 112 to lift the latter Whenever the pneumatic is collapsed. I find that the employment of the relatively high suction pressure for the operation of the sustain to he very objectionable. due to popping and hissing noises emanating from the tracker bar upon. frequent or lengthy periods of sustain. particularly so during soft passages of the music. I therefore have arranged to emplov the subsidiary the low pressure side of the-suhsidmriy 44, int-he upper part-ofi thecliannelosection 2. This subsidiarycrane ressure channel 44 extends to ;the extreme haias fiend .ofithe channel section, -ivliere. it' oomiedzsiwith the sustain pneumatic throu h th ventiialapassageway '113, shown in ottediilines inrlFig- -ure 5;" A suitable pouch andwwalvix finbt shown) are mounted in thewbodyi ofmthe pneumatic 110 and-fire controlledythroiigh the lead Ibi -manually from aliuttonwalve 'i n -the key he'd and automatically :frotn the tracker b'oa' rd penforetio'n 1114' as :were 'the treble and bass I pressure regulators l pouch and valve'in turn cdntrolsthesadmission of the hallt-pressure suction to the pneumatic 110. i?

i The hammer railis'arranged for ordinary pedal operationandis alsdcontrolled pneumatic'ally by the suction pressure a atthe pneumatic action so as to obtain allong harnmer stroke at the higher suction pressures, and a short hammer stroke at thelower suction pressures, to augment the changes iin rolumcoitoneu I f Referring to Figures (3 and 7, a pneumatic 11.6 is connected through the linkages-117 :to the hammer rail 118,-this pneumaticlbeing connected through the-flexible lead 119'to the elbow 120 leading to the actionchann'el. A torsion spring 121 normally tends to hold this pneumatic distended with the hammer rail close to the strings but this isopposed hy the suction pressure in the action channel which tends'to collapse the pneumatic 116 to a reater or less degree, according to-its pressure. Upon the hack sideof the pneumatic 116 is mounted the return'pneumatic which has its movable leaf'123 connected to the opposing -movable leaf 124'ofthe pneumatic 11.6 by thetabric' connector strap 125. The return pneumatic 122 is provided with a powerful torsion spring 126, amply strong enough to overcome the weaker torsion spring 12-1 of the pneumatic 116, this stronger torsion spring 126 normaltv retaim ing: the pneumatic 116 and the hammer rail [13 in a retracted position when the'piano is not operating pneumatically. The dotted line in Figure (3 indicates the edge of the pneumatic I16 and it will be seen' that the pneumatic 122 is considerably larger. A ea it? communicatingwith the high suctime] pressure channel 5 of the pinup 3 has; coulnumiration with the interior of 'the pneumatic 122 through the bore 128 Upon starting the pneumatic player this high suction pressure collapses the pneumatic 122, thus liberating the pneumatic 116 from the tension of the fabric strap 125, permitting the pneumatic 116 to change the osition of the hammer rail 118 in-oorrespon ence to the suction pressure at the pneumatic action. By properly adjustin the tension of the torsion spring. 1521 re ative to the suction pressure at'ithe pneumatic action, remarkably quick and artistic results can he secured-.9 Uponncessation of the pneumatic playemppemtion-the pneumatic 129, is relieved ofa'the'high-suctlon pressure from the 1 pump Y i3 and r uistantaneously retracts the pneumatic 116;:and- :ham'mer rail 118 to the position illustrated, thus allowing manual 'operationlof piano. keys. 11 have divided thehammerraili1=18 into two sections controllable .by pairs 1 of opposing neumatics situated ateach end'ofthe piano, though the hammerrailama be divided into a greater number of sectlons with a corresponding number 'of pairs of operating pneumaties.

A'reroll pneumatic 130-andarepeat pneumatic 131 aresupported upon the lefthand edge of'the pum'pfiframe 3, as shown inFigures 2, 4-,"ancl -8. These pneumatics are adaptedilfor reciprocation of-the valve rod 132,:slidingin the channel 6 of the pump 3, and being (secured to the valves 9 and 9',

previously referred to. A partition 133 di- =vidcs this channel 6 into two valve chambers. The valve chamber to theflright of the partition 133 extends over to the right and -communicates ivith the conduit 81,

which connects the tempo valve 80 and the air motor. The neumatics 130 and 131 are connectedwith controlling perforations 134 and 135 in the tracker bar by way of leads 134 and 135. When the music sheet has been entirely played the reroll perforation in the tracker bur is uncovered, the rcroll pneumatic 130 is collapsed, and the movable leaf' thereof strikes'the end of the valve 'rod 132, shifting the valve rod 132, covering the port 7 and uncovering the port '8. This action shuts off the pump 3 from the pneumatioaction and shunts the high pressure suction around the motor governor 72 directly to the air motor at the tracker bar, so that it 'llll'll at high speed and rcroll the music sheet rapidly IVhen the music sheet is nearly all rerolled the repeat perforation in the tracker bar is uncovered the repeat pneumatic 131 is collapsed. and a reversal of the valves 9 and 9"is effected, supplying. suction pressure to the pneumatic action and a governed suction pressure to the air motor for replaying the sheet. A stop valve 136, mounted n the tracker hox 137 is interposed in the lea 135 between the repeat perforation in the tracker bar and the repeat pneumatic to enable the operator to.-throw into or out 139, pinned to the valve rod 132, this spool 139 in addition to shifting the valve rod oscillates the lever 140 (Figure 8) and imparts a thrusting movement to the rod 141. which-extends up to the air 'motor'and controls thetransmission'gearingthereof, in a manner which-will be apparent to those skilled in the art. -Theteinpo control of the player is effected through the operation of the tempo lever 142,mountediin the key bed otthe pianoythemotionof this lever being transmitted tothe arm"143,rod"144, to the tempo valve'80, see Figures 1. 2 and 3. Another rod l tfiextends tothe left of the, arm 143, the cadet this rod being supported in the movable leaf ofa return pneumatic 146. \Vhen the player -is not operat ing the torsion spring 147 retains the morable leaf ofthe pneumatic: 146 in the position illustrated, the movable leafthereof having engaged with the stop 148 on the rod and returned the tempo control to Stop position. A flexible tube 149 connects the interior of the pneumatic L16 with the high pressure channel 5 of the pump. and it will be apparent that upon starting the player the pneumatic 146 will be (rollapsed, permitting the tempo control to be adjusted to any speed. An arm 151 having pivoted thereto an actuating rod 152. is connected to the reroll lever 150.- The rod 152 is similarly supported in the movable leaf of a return pneumatic 1531. The interior of this latter pneumatic is in series with the pneumatic 146. by way of the tube 154 and is arranged to be'collapsed b the high pressure suction from the pump 3. i tube 155 connected to the back of the pneumatic 153 conveys this high pressure suction to the hammer rail return pneumatic 122 at the bass end of the piano. The pneumatic 153 has a torsion spring 156 which nor mally tends to bring the movable leaf of the pneumatic into engagement with the stop 15? on the rod 152.

'hen the operation of the player is started. the return pneumatics 146 and 153 collapse to inoperative positions, permitting free movement of the tempo and rrroll le rers in either direction. After rcrolling the music sheet and stopping the electric iuotor Z. the return pneumatirs llt' and 1511 return the tempo and rcroll levers to their no mal or oil positions. These [ulQHIHfll'iltH Z by resetting the tran mission gearing t playing. position and returning the trmp valve to *Stop" position. minimize the numher of operations necessary preparatory t playing a piece of music.

Another arm 159 is arranged to be actuated from a lever 158 in the key-bed when it is desired to play the piano pneumatically but control the expression mechanism and the treble and bass regulators 84 and 85 manually. This arm is illustrated in Figure a music sheet is connected to the take-up troll preparatory to playing and is opened automatically when the sheet has been completelyrewound. .Moreover, the position of theelectric switch-is arranged to be dependent upon the ,position of the tempo mechanism, so that the electric motor 1 and the ail-motor drivingtbe rolls will always run practically simultaneously.

Referring to Figures 14, 15 and 16, a switch base 163, mounted adjacent the tracker box bears the angle sections 164 and 165 which support the fixed and movable contacts, respectively. An arm 166 is piv oted at 167 "upon the angle section 16 1, and this armsupports on its lip 168 a carbon contact member 169, which normally tends to contact with the fixed carbon meieibcr 2TH under the influence of the preponderatin; weight of'the arm 1.66 to the left ol the pivot 167. A spring connection 171 is 6111 ployed between the hp 168 and the contact member 169 so that the contact member may tilt with respect to the lip 168 and thereby adjust itself to secure the greatest area of engagement between the two contacts. Conductors 173 and 174, in series in the motor circuit, are connected to the angle sections 164 and 165, respectively.

The take-up roll 176 is formed with an annular groove 177 near the end thereof, as shown in Figure 15. in this groove plays the upright arm 178 of the bell crank rod 179, the horizontal portion of which extends through the side of the tracker box into proximity to the electric switch. and has pivotal bearings in the blocks 180 and 181. lhe other arm 19? of the bell vrauh rod is extended up over the lip 168. of the switch arm 166. a weight 193 secured to thr end of the bell crank arm 1 2. normally holding the contacts separated and the up right arm 17 in the groove 177 in the takiup roll 1T6. Upon applying a turn of uuisir sheet to the take-up roll 176. the upright arm 17? is thrust out of the groove in the take-up roll, thereby oscillatiu; the hori zontal arm 182 out of engagement with the lip 16R. permitting the movable and fixed contacts to engage and start the electric motor 17 In re-winding. the instant the extremity of the music sheet passes from be to engage the finger 184 and rotate the mova le rm 6. ssne etingith contests whe the rod 185 is thrust to.t he extreme left position. as rien'ed-in Figure lfi. .Thisextrem e left position correspondsto the"-Stop positionof the ten po indicator, which in turn corresponds to the inert condition of the airmotor .ior driving the music .rolls. This latter control between the tempo rod 185 and the switch tinger 184-is to prevent the closure of the electric switch when .the tempo valve is open, otherwise the air motor aiid takeaip roll would begin revolving imll'l ztlldtGly afterthe music sheet were applied to the take-up roll and possibly before the sheet could be firmly connected to the roll. Furthermore. this control prevents stopping of the motor without concurrently stoppingithc electric motor, which might othern ise result. in .futile running .of the pump 3 with the 'lllllSlC sheet motionless upon the trackerhoard. which would ilnpose an injurious strain upon the pump feeders.

l hare urtn'ided a unique and eflicacious method of supporting. the electric motor 1 in the piano casing. whichrcnders the electric motor absolutely soundless and positively insulates the piano casing, from all vibration from the motor. It is desirable that. the electric motor be readily interchangeable. so that if the motor provided in the player be unsuitable for the characteristic or voltage of the current available to the purchaser. a motor having the proper winding therefor can be interchanged.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 14. I suspend from the channel section 2 a block 188 having a dovetailgroove therein. .The runtor l. is sn'ung'between twou'ide fabri straps 189. 189 hichare secured at their upper edges to the block. 190. this latter block having a dovetail member 191 thereon. to engage in the correspondingly shaped. groove in the riszid block 18 .A thumb sc 'cn' J92. threaded in the block 190. and pressing against the block 188. securely binds the; dove-tail union of the two blocks together. Also suspended from the chamr'l section 2 is the bracket member 1925 ilHViflEf plvfililll) suspended therein the arm 19 which maintains a spring tension on the belts 4- 4, through the medium of the fabilllitfillili0 control mechanism.

- later. l3.

ric Loop 195. between it and the motor 1. This spring tension is adjustahly imparted to the arm 194 through the agency of the thumb screw 19.6. in engagement with the ,latei'atergtension 197 of the arm 194. The;

natural resiliency .of the long, arm 194 and its ability to fie gsomewhat maintain the ,belts ,at a proper driving tension, irrespect iyeoflthe influence of humidity or erature upon the leather of the belts.

ikfiii i ifahric'fstraps 189 permit the motor 1 Ac swiu the plane of the belts w obviously, the cloth fabric .pieces, 18,9,..and .195, afford an eifeetii'e gyihi ato 'y insulation between the motor 1,

.tl enrainbody of the piano. The 1110- 101;,1, tcgether. iritl1 the fabric straps 1S2), tlie hlock 190, andthe fabric loop 195 com- .p rise a unitreadily interchangeable in the Eli-"1.- .qil lge qperatiqn of the player piano is as -tp pwsa i he musicroll is inserted in the tracker yhqx-nnd-theend'of the sheet is secured to .thetal re-iip roll 17 6, which is rcx-folvcd sutli';

aflently by h a nd to oscillate the hell crank 1140K} 1T9. thereby placing the electric switch in condition to be closed upon operation of v The tempo lcijer 121-2 is pushed to the left. against the spring tension of the tempo return pneumatic ,!,-Lt3,- anil-hlield there momentarily. This permits.theelectric switch to close by ggrarity and-opens the tempo valve 80, lead- .ing to the air motor, resulting in the drivingr ot the pump 3, by the electric motor 1. and the simultaneous operation of the air motor. The suction from the pump 3 retnact-s. the return pneumatics 146 and 1523.

leaving the tempo and reroll controls free.

.,pre\'ioi 1sLv described. for obtaining: pressure variations at the pneumatic action and corresponding: changes; in volume of l'AlUi'. The expression mechanism is also controllable manually from the expression pedal 33 through the resilient engagement of the lcafsprjng 35 with the main pressure recu- 'Ihe treble or bass pressure regulators and -35 are controllable from ll tracker bar or key bed. to obtain relatiir variations of tone volume. between the tn!- halves of the piano. The expression inc sive. nisin and the treble and bass r gulators can he made entirely sub ect to manual control by nuinipulation of the lcrcr lZ-H. and consequent shifting of tlic :Il ile i'ulr'i 518, to sever these.mechanisms from their respective perforations in the tracke lr-zir. The sustain is likewise controllable automatically from the tracker lHLI'. and manually from both a button valve in the her bed and a sustain pedal. The hammer rail pneumatic shifts the hammer rail in concurrence with pressure variations at the pneumatic action and by changing the hammcr stroke greatly augments the changes in volume of tone upon pressure variations by either the expression mechanism or the treble or bass regulators I When the sheet is entirely played a series of perforations therein uncover'theleioll perforation 134', contracting,the freioll pneumatic l30, shifting the reroll 'gearing at the tracker box, shifting the valves 9 and 9 and thereby cuttingbfi the pneumatic action from the pump and admitting a high suction pressureto*the'air momr for rapid rcrolling of the sheet. The aboveaction can also be effected manuallyb'y operation of the reroll bv manual operat'iomofj the rcroll lever. which is arranged to therel v open a suitable valve, admitting fitmos pheric pressure to the reroll pneumatic ,130. When the sheet is nearly rewounda'series of repeat perforations coincidewith the repeat perforation 135 in the, tracker bar and if the stop valve'136 is open therepe'atpneumatic 131 is thereupon collapsed, with a consequent reshifting of the rero'lhgearing and pump valve to a playing position. By opening the stop valve 136, after the player is in operation. a music roll may be made to replay an indefinite number of times.

Vvith the stop valve 136 closed the operation of rcrolling is com dotted, the sheet leaving the take-up roll 1:6, permitting the bell crank rod 179 to throw open the electric switch. With the cessation of suction from the pump 3, the return pneumatics 146 and 153 return the tempo andreroll controls io their normal positions, the return pneumati 129 retracts the hammer rail 118, and thin the movement of the rod 185 upon the return of'the tempo control, the

closure of the electric switch is made de-- e position of the tempo pendent upon lh control.

l do not intend to be limited to the pro-- rise construction or arrangement of my player piano. as illustrated and described.

I claim: 7 i. In a player piano. the combination of a tracker ha r, a pressure regulator comprising :a suction responsive member. a valve controlled by the position of said suction rcsponshc member. means for directly subiccting said suction responsive member to suction at predetermined intervals for actul in! said valve. said latter means being coull'nllvil from said tracker bar, pneumatic opcv:iiin; means having mechanical connection 'llll said su tion rcsponslve nieinlicrlor actual in: the lath-r. and means controlled from said tracker bar for controlling admission of suction to said pneumatic operating means.

2. ln :1 player piano, a tracker bar, a pres- HJIG regulator, a diaphragm govcrningsaid regulator,'said diaphragm being controlled by differential pressures upon the opposite sides thereof, a lever forope ra'ting said pressure regulator, pneumaticmeans controlled fioiiWsaid tracker bar for actuating said I le- 'ver,' and pneumatic means controlled from said tracker bar for v'ar'ying one of said 'difl'erential pressures acting 'upon said diai p g H, p 153.? nf a p1ayer-'pia o,-the combination of a 't'rat sker bar, a 'p ressu re'reguiatorg'means confleeting said regulat r with the source of suc- 'tion and 'v'tiththe'pnefumatic'action, saidreg- 'kjpl a'tor comprising valve'means tor throttling he ;,seurce=0r su ct'ion ands'aid' pneumatic action, 1rsuctionrespor siwesurface' govern i n'g said 'regulatpr, said suction responsive surface be- 'ingciintrolled;by difierentia'l pressures alpon opposite sides thereof, one side 'of said sun "the' in'edium' of a"'sliction imposed"upon the 'bthenside Of the surface? i, In a player piano, the combinationof a tracker bar,'a' source of suction, pneumatic, operating mechanism, a suctionconduitconnectingf said source of suction with said pneumatic 'o'peratmgmechanism, a pressure regulator interposed in said conduit,'said pressure regulator comprising valve means for restrictipgpr'enlargingthe'iirea of surtion' connnunication'througli said conduit; a suction responsivesurface controlling said regulator, said suction responsive surface normally having a constant pressure upon one side thereof, and meanscontrolled from said tracker bar for varying the pressure on 'saidoneside.' I j 5. In a player piano, a pneumatic action, a source of suction, a passage connecting said pneumatic action and said source of suction, a valve in said passage for controlling the suction pressure of'said pneumatic action, suction responsive means for controlling said valve, and means for subjecting said suction responsive means to diflerent degrees of suction pressureindependently'of the position of said valve and independently of variations of suction at said source of suction. 6. In a player piano, the combination of a tracker bar, a pneumatic action," 'a source of suction, a suction conduit connecting said source of suction with said pneumatic action, a pressure regulator interposed insaid conduit, said pressure regulator comprising valve incans for restricting or enlarging the arcaof suction communication through said conduit, :1 lever for operating said pressure regulator. and pneumatic means controlled from said tracker bar for actuating said lever.

7. in a player piano, the combination of a tracker bar, a source of suction, pneumatic 

